Healing Alongside Community by Susan Friedman
Hello, I’m Susan, and I am new to Yoga Garden. I am grateful to practice in Yoga Garden’s creative space and to be part of such a warm and welcoming community of yogis.
I am a yoga instructor and social worker who believes that we heal ourselves best when embraced by a compassionate and caring community. For over 30 years, I worked in community-based nonprofits, assisting survivors of partner and family abuse. I have often been asked, “How can you do such difficult and depressing work?” It can be tricky to explain how I find tremendous joy in witnessing the reemergence of trust, connection, and resilience when walking alongside someone in crisis.
Plus, I don’t do it alone. One of my responsibilities has been building teams of volunteers to assist people in need. There is beauty in seeing volunteers grow and heal, as much as those they help. It’s inspiring to know they are sharing what they've learned with others in their lives, and to know that deep wisdom is passed on. I know that being with others as they heal and grow has been a powerful way to tend to my own wellbeing.
My yoga journey began over 20 years ago, possibly the beginnings of perimenopause, when I started experiencing physical pain that did not respond to medical attention. My yoga practice quickly began to heal my body, and, to my surprise, quieted my mind and lifted my soul in ways I had not previously experienced. I was hooked and took my first yoga teacher training to develop my personal practice. It's been a profound journey that has encouraged me to create spaces where people can practice yoga to heal and grow together, knowing that they also share their feelings of well-being with others.
Three years ago, I took a trauma-informed yoga teacher training where I learned to facilitate wisdom circles from my teacher, nina be of Mind Body Centering Yoga. A wisdom circle is a supportive space where we explore self-awareness and grow our understanding of the world and our place in it. We begin with meditation, relaxation, and breathwork, and then reflect on our practice by journaling and discussing our experience. Then we move into a gentle yoga practice and pause again to reflect. Finally, we end with self-care and rest.
Yoga has always been about more than movement—it’s about the circles we form, the wisdom we share, and the healing that unfolds when we come together. I am grateful to begin offering wisdom circles, workshops, and yoga here at Yoga Garden, and I look forward to creating spaces of reflection, connection, and growth with you.
Susan’s workshop Finding Joy in Uncertain Times will take place this Sunday from 2-4pm. Click here for more information.
Wisdom Circles will meet weekly on Mondays beginning October 20. Click here for more information.
